Hookah Bowl

ABSTRACT

A hookah bowl includes a bowl having an interior space for holding tobacco, a plate disposed above the bowl for holding charcoal to be burned thereon to ignite the tobacco, a lid disposed over the bowl and over the plate to enclose the charcoal on the plate, and a latch mechanism configured to selectively latch the lid in a closed position over the plate or unlatch the lid allowing the lid to be rotated to an open position in which the plate is exposed to an outside environment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a hookah bowl. In particular, the present invention relates to hookah bowls with safety features.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A hookah bowl is a bowl used for smoking tobacco using a water pipe, such as a hookah. Such hookahs generally include a head or bowl for holding tobacco, a plate disposed over the bowl for holding charcoal, a body having an internal pipe, a base containing water and a hose. In use, the pipe is placed in the base with water with the body creating an airtight seal with the base. The tobacco is placed in the bowl over the pipe. The plate with charcoal is placed over the bowl so that the charcoal heats the tobacco under the plate. The user can inhale through the hose which draws smoke from the burning tobacco through the pipe and through the water into the hose so that the smoke can be inhaled.

However, such hookah bowls often create safety issues. In many hookah bowls, a lid may merely rest on top of the plate containing the charcoal, with the plate may be easily removable to allow placement of the tobacco underneath. If the hookah bowl or hookah falls over, the hot or burning charcoal and tobacco may be spilled out of the bowl onto a floor, a carpet or even onto a person using the hookah.

Accordingly, an improved hookah bowl with safety features is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention comprise a hookah bowl that includes a bowl having an interior space for holding tobacco, a plate disposed above the bowl for holding charcoal to be burned thereon to ignite the tobacco, a lid disposed over the bowl and over the plate to enclose the charcoal on the plate, and a latch mechanism configured to selectively latch the lid in a closed position over the plate or unlatch the lid allowing the lid to be rotated to an open position in which the plate is exposed to an outside environment.

Further objects, features, and advantages of the present invention over the prior art will become apparent from the detailed description of the drawings which follows, when considered with the attached figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a hookah bowl in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a latch assembly for the hookah bowl in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bowl of the hookah bowl in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the plate of the hookah bowl in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates the lid of the hookah bowl in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough description of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the invention.

Embodiments of the invention comprise a hookah bowl that includes a bowl having an interior space for holding tobacco, a plate disposed above the bowl for holding charcoal to be burned thereon to ignite the tobacco, a lid disposed over the bowl and over the plate to enclose the charcoal on the plate, and a latch mechanism configured to selectively latch the lid in a closed position over the plate or unlatch the lid allowing the lid to be rotated to an open position in which the plate is exposed to an outside environment.

A hookah bowl 100 is illustrated in FIG. 1. The hookah bowl 100 includes a handle 102, a bowl 104, a latch assembly 106, a lid 108 and a plate 110. The bowl 104 is attached to an upper portion of the handle 102.

The handle 102 is configured to be held in a human hand, or can be attached to a hookah pipe (not shown). The handle may be made from various materials, but is preferably made from a material to increase grip. For example, the handle 102 may be a rubber material. The handle 102 may include a lower lip 138 that extends outward. The handle may include protrusions 134 to increase grip. The protrusions 134 may be separated from areas of the handle not having protrusions by areas 136. Other configurations of the handle 102 may be used with embodiments of the invention.

The bowl 104 is configured to hold tobacco therein. The bowl 104 also supports the plate 110 on an upper edge of the bowl 104. The plate is configured to support a material such as charcoal to provide heat to the tobacco in the bowl 104. The lid 108 sits on top of the plate 110, and can be securely retained over the plate 110 by the latch assembly 106, as further described below.

The latch assembly 106 includes a latch 114. The latch 114 has a hook portion 112. The hook portion 112 has a curved end configured to interface with a connector 128 on the side of the lid 108. When the latch 114 is turned, it causes the hook portion 112 to extend in an upward or downward direction to hook onto or release from the connector 128 on the lid 108, securing the lid 108 on to a top of the bowl 104 and the plate 110, or alternatively releasing the lid 108.

When the latch 114 is turned to cause the hook portion 112 to move upward, it is moved upward a distance such that the end of the hook portion 112 is at a higher position than the end of the connector 112. In a preferred embodiment, a portion 116 of the latch assembly 106 may rotate around a pivot point 115, allowing the lid 108 to be lifted off of the plate 110 and off of the bowl 104. To secure the lid 108, the portion 116 of the latch assembly may be pushed upwards so that the hook portion 112 interfaces with the connector 128, and the latch 114 may be turned, causing downward movement of the hook portion to secure the lid 108.

In a preferred embodiment, a connection portion 124 of the lid 108 is positioned at an opposite side of the lid 108 from where the connector 128 is disposed, and the connection portion 124 of the lid 108 may be connected to a pivot point 122. When the latch 114 is turned to release the lid 108, and the lid 108 is lifted such as by pushing on an underside of handle 130, the right side of the lid 108 in FIG. 1 is lifted upward, but the left side of the lid 108 rotates about pivot point 122. This allows the right side of the lid 108 to be lifted and opened, while the lid 108 remains attached to the hookah bowl 100 by being attached to the left side of the latch assembly 106. This structure allows the lid 108 to be easily secured in place by using the latch 114 to prevent hot charcoal or tobacco from being spilled from the hookah bowl 100, while also allowing easy opening of the lid when the latch 114 is released to access the interior of the hookah bowl 100 while retaining the lid attached to the bowl 104 in the open position.

The plate 110 may include cutout portions 132. The cutout portions 132 may allow airflow to the plate 110 and any charcoal thereto when the lid 108 is closed. Further details of the plate are discussed herein in conjunction with FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 illustrate a perspective view of the latch assembly 106. The latch assembly 106 includes a central portion 118 configured to be secured around an upper portion of the handle 102. The central portion 118 may have a round shape, although it could have other shapes depending on the shape of the handle. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the central portion 118 could have a different shape as long as the latch assembly 106 was configured to attach to the handle 102 and/or to the bowl 104.

On an opposite side of the central portion 118 from the latch 114, the latch assembly 106 includes an attachment portion 120 configured to attach the latch assembly 106 to the lid 108, such that the lid 108 can rotate around rotation point 122. A rod or other element may be disposed through the holes in the attachment portion 120 at rotation point 122 to facilitate rotation when the lid 108 is lifted. The attachment portion 120 may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to a direction in which the central portion 118 extends.

The latch assembly 106, other than the portion 116 may be formed from two halves divided down a center, as shown by the central line in FIG. 2. The two halves may be configured to snap or otherwise connect together around handle 102, for example, making for easy installation of the latch assembly 106. During the time when the two halves are snapped together, the portion 116, including the latch 114 and the hook portion 112 can be disposed to be connected to the rest of the latch assembly 106 at rotation point 115, such as by use of a rod connected through the holes disposed at the rotation point 115.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the bowl 104 and the handle 102. The bowl 104 and the handle 102 may be formed together as one element or may be formed separately and connected together.

The bowl 104 has a bottom wall 308, an outer wall 310 having an upper rim and an inner side wall 312, and an inner wall 314 having an upper rim 316. The bottom wall 308 may be flat or curved. The outer wall 310 may be formed in a circular shape, although other shapes could be used. The outer wall 310 may extend upward in a direction substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the bottom wall 308. The inner side wall 312 of the outer wall 310 may also be circular, but other shapes could be used. The outer wall 310 may have a substantially uniform thickness, although a varying thickness could be used.

The inner wall 314 may have a substantially uniform thickness or a varying thickness. In a preferred embodiment, the inner wall 314 may be sloped inward from bottom to top. The inner wall 314 may be circular in shape, although other shapes could be used. The inner wall 314 may form a hole 318 that extends all the way through the bottom of the bowl 104. The handle 102 may have a corresponding hole through its center that extends all the way down the handle 102.

The bowl 104 may have a plurality of projections 320 extending upward from the bottom wall 308. The projections 320 extend from the inner side wall 312 of the outer wall 310 towards the inner wall 314. In a preferred embodiment, the projections 320 extend to the upper rim of the outer wall 310 and have a top surface 322 that decreases in height as it moves from the outer wall 310 towards the inner wall 314. The projections 320 may have side walls 324 that are curved.

The bowl 104 has an inner chamber that is formed by the inner side wall 312, the inner wall 314 and the projections 322. The inner chamber is configured to receive tobacco to be burned. The hole 318 allows smoke from burning the tobacco to flow down through the hole 318 in the bowl 104 and through the corresponding hole in the handle 102.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the plate 110. The plate has an upper surface having a plurality of outer walls 412 extending upward therefrom. As shown in FIG. 1, the plate is configured to be placed between the bowl 104 and the lid 108. Accordingly, the plate has a shape to conform with the shapes of the bowl 104 and the lid 108, which in preferred embodiments may be a round shape. Between each of the walls 412 there may be cutout portions 132 to provide airflow to the plate when the hookah bowl is assembled and the lid 108 is in the closed position. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, there are four walls 412 separated by four cutout portions 132, although different numbers of walls 412 and cutout portions 132 could be used.

In one embodiment, the plate 110 may have a connector portion 414 configured to connect the plate 110 to the attachment portion 120 of the latch assembly 106 at pivot point 122. When the plate 110 is connected to the latch assembly 106, the plate 110 can be raised to an open position by pushing on a bottom side of the plate 110 to raise the plate at a side of the plate opposite from the connector portion 414 which can rotate about pivot point 122.

The plate 110 may also have one or more projections 416. The projections 416 may be circular. As shown in FIG. 4, the projections 416 may form a series of progressively smaller circles moving towards a center 422 of the plate 110. The plate 110 may also have holes 420 disposed in channels 418 between the projections 416. The holes 420 allow an increase in heat to flow form the charcoal on the plate 110 to tobacco disposed in the bowl 104.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the lid 108. The lid 108 may comprise an outer lid 510 and an inner lid 512. The inner lid 512 may be sized so as to fit within the outer lid 510. The inner lid 512 may include the connection portion 124 and the connector 128 for connection to the latch assembly 106. Both the inner and outer lids 510, 512 may include one or more vent portions 514 to allow air flow from an outside environment to the inside of the lid 108. The one or more vent portions may be disposed in corresponding positions on the lids 510, 512 so as to line up with each other. In a preferred embodiment, the outer lid 510 may be rotatable relative to the inner lid 512. For example, pressing on a side of the handle 130 on the outer lid 510 may cause the outer lid 512 to rotate relative to the inner lid 512. Rotation of the outer lid 510 relative to the inner lid 512 allows a user to control an amount of airflow into the lid 108, by moving the outer lid 510 to control an amount of overlap of the vent portions on the inner and outer lids 510, 512.

It will be appreciated that the hookah bowl illustrated in the figures is only exemplary of the specific illustrated embodiments. For example, it is possible to for the hookah bowl to have various other configurations, including different shapes and styles and having different components than as just described.

For example, instead of the latch mechanism 106 and connector 128 for selectively connecting or disconnecting the lid to the bowl 104 and plate 110, the hookah bowl 100 could include another means for selectively connecting or disconnecting the lid to the bowl 104 and plate 110, such as another type of fastener. For example, in place of the latch 106, embodiments of the invention could use a magnetic connector, a screw-on lid, a locking hinge, or even a connector utilizing a material such as Velcro.

Additionally, while the embodiments illustrate a single latch 114 with a rotation point on the opposite side of the bowl, an alternative embodiment could have two latches on opposite sides of the bowl.

It will be understood that the above described arrangements of apparatus and the method there from are merely illustrative of applications of the principles of this invention and many other embodiments and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hookah bowl comprising: a bowl having an interior space for holding tobacco; a plate disposed above the bowl for holding charcoal to be burned thereon to ignite the tobacco; a lid disposed over the bowl and over the plate to enclose the charcoal on the plate; and a latch mechanism having a latch and an attachment portion, the latch configured to selectively latch the lid in a closed position over the plate or unlatch the lid, the attachment portion connected to the lid on an opposite side of the lid from the latch, the attachment portion including a lid rotation point allowing the lid to be rotated about the rotation point to an open position in which the plate is exposed to an outside environment when the latch is unlatched from the lid.
 2. A hookah bowl according to claim 1, further comprising a connector disposed on the lid facing the latch, wherein the latch includes a hook portion configured to be selectively moved from a lowered positioned to engage the connector on the lid or to a raised position to disengage the connector when the latch is activated or deactivated.
 3. A hookah bowl according to claim 1, further comprising a handle connected to a bottom of the bowl, wherein the latch mechanism has a lower portion that connects to the handle.
 4. A hookah bowl according to claim 3, wherein the lower portion includes a latch rotation point allowing the latch to be rotated about the latch rotation point when the latch is unlatched from the lid.
 5. A hookah bowl according to claim 1, wherein the plate includes a connection portion connected to the attachment portion of the latch mechanism and to the lid rotation point.
 6. A hookah bowl according to claim 5, wherein the plate is configured to rotate around the lid rotation point when the lid is rotated to the open position to give access to an interior of the bowl.
 7. A hookah bowl according to claim 1, wherein the plate has an upper surface, a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the upper surface, and a plurality of cutout portions disposed between the walls, the cutout portions allowing airflow to the plate when the lid is in the closed position.
 8. A hookah bowl according to claim 7, wherein the plate comprises a plurality of projections and channels disposed between the projections, the channels having holes disposed through the plate to allow airflow from the plate into the bowl.
 9. A hookah bowl according to claim 1, wherein the bowl has a bottom wall, an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer wall and the inner wall both extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the outer wall having an upper rim, and a plurality of projections extending from the outer wall towards the inner wall, the projections decreasing in height with a distance from the outer wall towards the inner wall.
 10. A hookah bowl comprising: a bowl having an interior space for holding tobacco; a plate disposed above the bowl for holding charcoal to be burned thereon to ignite the tobacco; a lid disposed over the bowl and over the plate to enclose the charcoal on the plate; and a latch mechanism configured to selectively latch the lid in a closed position over the plate or unlatch the lid allowing the lid to be rotated to an open position in which the plate is exposed to an outside environment.
 11. A hookah bowl according to claim 10, wherein a lid point of rotation of the lid is on an opposite side of the bowl from the latch mechanism.
 12. A hookah bowl according to claim 11, wherein the plate is attached to the lid point of rotation and the plate is configured to rotate about the lid point of rotation when the lid is rotated to the open position.
 13. A hookah bowl according to claim 10, wherein the latch is configured to rotate about a latch rotation point when the latch is unlatched from the lid.
 14. A hookah bowl according to claim 10, further comprising a connector disposed on the lid facing the latch, wherein the latch includes a hook portion configured to be selectively moved from a lowered positioned to engage the connector on the lid or to a raised position to disengage the connector when the latch is activated or deactivated.
 15. A hookah bowl according to claim 10, wherein the plate has an upper surface, a plurality of walls extending upwardly from the upper surface, and a plurality of cutout portions disposed between the walls, the cutout portions allowing airflow to the plate when the lid is in the closed position.
 16. A hookah bowl according to claim 15, wherein the plate comprises a plurality of projections and channels disposed between the projections, the channels having holes disposed through the plate to allow airflow from the plate into the bowl.
 17. A hookah bowl according to claim 10, wherein the bowl has a bottom wall, an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer wall and the inner wall both extending upwardly from the bottom wall, the outer wall having an upper rim, and a plurality of projections extending from the outer wall towards the inner wall, the projections decreasing in height with a distance from the outer wall towards the inner wall. 